Vegetarianism has existed for several millennia. Many people in ancient times adhered to this diet on the basis of various religious ideas. Vegetarianism was widely popular in many Western European countries in the first half of the nineteenth century. It was during this period that various societies emerged and began active work to promote this system of nutrition. In Russia, vegetarianism began to spread from the second half of the nineteenth century, mainly among members of the intelligentsia and adherents of various sects.
What is the difference between the existing directions of vegetarianism?
Adherents of a vegetarian diet can be divided into several groups. The so-called Old Vegetarians do not allow the use of any products of animal origin under any conditions. Another group, called the Young Vegetarians, refuses to accept meat products, but allows the inclusion of dairy products and eggs in their diet. Another type of vegetarianism promotes eating only plant products and only in raw form. The common point for all varieties of this food system is the refusal to include in the diet of food obtained from killing animals, be it cattle, poultry or fish.
What, in the opinion of vegetarians, is dangerous eating of meat products?
According to the basic concept of vegetarianism, the structure and peculiarities of the functioning of the organs of the digestive system of man are not adapted to eating food of animal origin. Therefore, when eating meat, it is alleged that damage to human health is caused by the formation of toxic substances in the body, which are dangerous to the cells of the body and cause chronic poisoning.
What is the danger of vegetarianism from the point of view of modern science?
Scientists-nutritionists recommend to include in the diet products of animal origin. The fact is that the protein of animal meat contains some essential amino acids, the synthesis of which from other amino acids in the human body is impossible. The absence of such essential amino acids in the vegetarian diet is very dangerous, because in this case the synthesis of many proteins of the human body is disrupted, and this already leads to the emergence of various diseases, disruption of the growth and development processes.
Official medicine recommends vegetarianism only as a short-term diet and only for certain certain diseases (atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, kidney disease and gastrointestinal tract). In medical nutrition, a vegetarian diet is used in the so-called "unloading days", during which patients are encouraged to use only vegetables or fruits.
Thus, vegetarianism can harm human health. The exclusion of meat and meat products from food is especially dangerous during periods of growth and development, as well as with increased physical exertion. Vegetarianism is justifiably used only as a short-term diet in the case of certain diseases.